Poll: How do you feel about assisted suicide?

[Blow_Pop]

I have told everyone I know that if I ever wind up paralyzed(quad) or a vegetable, to just kill me then and there. All I am doing is prolonging suffering from family and friends.

I have no problems with assisted suicide. Most of the people I have found that have problems with it are uber religious people. Who also would rather see a mother die rather than have a life saving abortion. As long as the person has given their consent verbally or in writing prior to assisted suicide then I have no problem with it.

 

[Cecilo]

Not really sure if this situation would count, but my Grandmother demanded (Though my Mother and Father had to make the final decision) That she be allowed to go home and die where she wanted (Which is at home with my Grandfather).

My Mother decided to let her go home, where she will surely pass away, It's sad but she will live how she wants in her final days/weeks/months, which is what I believe to be the important part, Which I also believe everyone has the choice to die as they wish (Unless that includes taking others with them, in which case you lose that choice).

On that same note, if one of her care takers comes in, there is a note on the door, which is an order not to resuscitate, so, again not really sure if it counts as suicide, since she is sick, but she could have been cured but chose not to. I dunno.

 

[Sethzard]

I am heavily supportive of assisted suicide, at least in the case of severe physiological suffering such as an incurable disease. Euthanasia is a greyer area for me. It's done without the consent of people however I still think that it's something which can need to be done.

 

[the December King]

I'm okay with this. If I can be okay with the idea of destroying mass-murderers and serial-rapists, I'm okay with the notion of ending someone's misery, or to put it more succinctly someone's misery ending, if they wish it.

 

[Souplex]

If someone is terminally ill? It's perfectly reasonable.
If someone just wants to die? With a waiting period, and a mental diagnosis it's reasonable.

 

[Me55enger]

The irony in the free world is that the only freedom that really matters is either immoral or illegal.

 

[Raggedstar]

Perhaps comparing the issue to animals is "missing the point" or "trivializing the issue" but as I have no experience with human loved ones or patients that's all I have to go by (and even though euthanasia with pets is well accepted, there are people who don't agree with it on religious or personal grounds). But ya, the hardest thing I had to witness was from a few months ago. There was a 15 year old Shih Tzu who was presented for not eating for 3 days. We did blood work and discovered her values were all over the place, most notably signs that typically lead to pancreatitis and (more importantly) kidney failure. Her physical condition in general was deteriorated with blank eyes, a dried out nose that she could barely breathe through, and was generally non-responsive to her environment. The owner didn't want to put her down, but even with attempted treatment she didn't respond to it. Kidney failure is a disease of constant degradation, so it's more or less terminal. She still didn't eat and could barely lift her head. The owner still wanted to try, so she left her with us to put her on IV fluids. All that dog did was scream, flail around on her side (sometimes hitting the cage wall repeatedly), wouldn't swallow any food or water placed in her mouth, and just not be a happy camper (even with the owner around). The poor dog didn't even respond to voice or physical contact, even if being carried it seemed like she would be sleeping with her eyes open and then suddenly "snap awake". It took several days for the owner (who was unsure if it was the right choice) to put her down. There couldn't have been a happy ending for that dog. If left alone, she would've just wasted away slowly.

I know that "euthanasia" and "assisted suicide" are two different terms (and switching from animal to human cases is opening up a can of worms), but the reasoning is the same. People want to die with dignity and without suffering. To many people, that dignity doesn't involve constant pain, not doing things that can make you happy, or putting a constant strain on your loved ones. Of course assisted suicide needs to be heavily regulated and never forced on an individual or family, but an option needs to be there. I've heard people consider assisted suicide as an "easy way out" or want people to "fight it out", though I don't agree with those viewpoints being imposed on people or families. There's no pay-off to fighting something that can't be meaningfully won (at least the way I see it). Doctors hate talking about assisted suicide, even if what they're doing is technically that (there are a few different names for it, but I heard of a program where they drug up a patient to the degree where they feel nothing and just waste away after a few days/weeks). There has to be more open discussion among the medical communities.

So yes, I support it.

 

[rutger5000]

There is no right answer to this question. But the "it's not okay" answer is more wrong than the "it's okay". If you ever find yourself in such a situation you'll have to figure out for yourself what the best thing to do is. Hopefully you'll have the balls to figure it out for yourself instead of solely relying on a standardized sets of morals. In any case if the 'victim' and the 'killer' are both of sound mind, and it's truly the 'victims' desire to die, than no one can judge the 'killer' without first carefully investigating the case.

 

[DugMachine]

I think if you have some terminal illness and are barely holding on with life support and you truly wanted it to end you should have the choice to do so. I don't know if I could go through with it but if your loved one/friend is in a great amount of pain and is ready to move on you should support them in their last wish. Only for illnesses though. I won't assist a depressed friend/family member as there's so much to live for and I would try my hardest to convince them.

 

[wulfy42]

The world is overpopulated. I'm all in favor of reducing the number of humans inhabiting this planet in any way possible. Assisted suicide is a start at least.
Isn't Mc Donalds basically a huge company based on assisting the average American to commit suicide?

Honestly though, I think any individual should be legally allowed to commit suicide (it's actually illegal), and should be assisted in that goal by the gov as long as they complete certain pre-reqs first, including 2-3 visits to a psychologist, and a 3 month waiting period.

I also think we should implement mandatory birth control and children should only be born by decision and not accident. I think all child raising costs should be shouldered by the community and each child should be precious and cared for. I don't believe there should be any welfare for parents at all, but child care is free, children can get 3 meals a day from the child care sites, and oh yeah, education should be free as well.

If you make the world a better place for everyone, less people will want to kill themselves. If you make each life precious, more people will help each other and everyone will feel cared for. Forcing people who don't want to live, to either continue to do so, or harm themselves...is not a humane thing to do.

 

[Kargathia]

It's quite an ugly thing, but honestly: if even the decision whether we live or die is taken from us, what do we have left?

Especially so when it comes to terminal sickness - forcing somebody to live with daily humiliation, excruciating pain, and (almost) complete disability, just because you want to feel good about yourself... it's about as cruel as it gets.

 

[Reed Spacer]

Well, at least as long as they're not being paid to do it, like that doctor whatshisface.

Admittedly, he was making a killing doing it, but...

 

[Something Amyss]

I have trouble seeing any parallel to the Death Penalty except death is involved. And for that to be an issue, should we expect to see a thread about whether or not we're pro or against cancer?

I believe in the right to choose to end your own life, especially when the alternative is great suffering. I don't really like it, but I think it should be necessary for the option to be there.

 

[Something Amyss]

Well, at least as long as they're not being paid to do it, like that doctor whatshisface.

Admittedly, he was making a killing doing it, but...

Kevorkian? If it makes you feel any better, Doctor Death probably wasn't in it for the money.

 

[Aramis Night]

I do not agree with assisted suicide. If you can't do it yourself, you don't deserve the right to die. Nothing that worth doing should just be handed to someone. They should have to work for it. And if they are so pathetic that they can't manage it themselves, then they should just kill themselves because they are worthless.

Only exception being seppuku with the assistance of a kaishakunin.

 

[Colour Scientist]

I do not agree with assisted suicide. If you can't do it yourself, you don't deserve the right to die. Nothing that worth doing should just be handed to someone. They should have to work for it. And if they are so pathetic that they can't manage it themselves, then they should just kill themselves because they are worthless.

Only exception being seppuku with the assistance of a kaishakunin.

So, what about people who are paralysed from the neck down, such as people with late stage MS?
How are they supposed to "work for it"?

 

[Aramis Night]

I do not agree with assisted suicide. If you can't do it yourself, you don't deserve the right to die. Nothing that worth doing should just be handed to someone. They should have to work for it. And if they are so pathetic that they can't manage it themselves, then they should just kill themselves because they are worthless.

Only exception being seppuku with the assistance of a kaishakunin.

So, what about people who are paralysed from the neck down, such as people with late stage MS?
How are they supposed to "work for it"?

Then they should have gotten to it during the earlier stages of MS instead of procrastinating. Like I said, seppuku is still an option, just might take a bit more initiative from the kaishakunin. As long as your kaishakunin doesn't have late stage MS, you should be fine.

 

[gagagaga]

I'm for it, but it needs a TON of oversight, and the person requesting it to have a terminal illness or something like severe Alzheimer's or dementia.

 

[Jenvas1306]

youtube also has the full documentary "Terry Pratchett: choosing to die"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slZnfC-V1SY

I found it shortly after having a talk with my father who was diagnosed with MS a bit over a year ago. He suffered two mild strokes aswell. For now he still works at his job and cares for most things himself, but MS is very tricky and its progression cant be forseen.
For most part of my life my father has been a strong person who allways took care of others. Now he needs my help once in a while.
Noone can tell how quickly it might get worse with him, or if the next MS push will leave him in a wheelchair or even worse off.

I cant vote on the poll because the options are way to simple phrased

Sadly the only thing that a person here can legally do is to decide if they want measures to prolong their life or not.
There is no way to sign a document that has a list of specific circumstances that when fullfilled allow to end that persons life.
Especially in a time where people live longer and longer it seems necessary to add laws that protect and support a persons right to choose when to not continue to live.

 

[Funyahns]

I do not agree with assisted suicide. If you can't do it yourself, you don't deserve the right to die. Nothing that worth doing should just be handed to someone. They should have to work for it. And if they are so pathetic that they can't manage it themselves, then they should just kill themselves because they are worthless.

Only exception being seppuku with the assistance of a kaishakunin.

I am in favor of it within limits. Like it has to be the persons choice and be in the will. Or left with power of attorney in someone trusted. It should be for vegetative states, end of life suffering and even Dementia/Alzheimer's. I can understand any of those cases for allowance. In any of those cases you may be unable to do it yourself. You can also make sure its a safe clean end. When you get older and see people suffering or suffer more yourself your world view may shift a bit.